Jim Adams, a foster volunteer, visits with Angelo in the lobby of Foothills Animal Shelter.

Pit bulls are not the demon dogs they have been made out to be, but they are strong, active dogs that are not for everyone.

That, in a nutshell, is the message from professional staff members at Foothills Animal Shelter in Golden, who sat down with Fetch recently for a roundtable discussion about the controversial breed.

Foothills is an “open admission” shelter, meaning that no animal in need is turned away. It has always taken in pit bulls, both in the new shelter opened in 2010 and before then, when it was known as Table Mountain Animal Shelter.

Plenty of the dogs have wound up there.

Jennifer Strickland, director of community relations, said in its first year of operation, pit bulls accounted for 455 of the 4,126 animals handled at Foothills. The next biggest group was labrador retrievers.
A major reason for these numbers is that when Denver banned pit bulls there was an exodus of the breed to surrounding suburban communities.

Foothills serves unincorporated Jefferson County and six cities on the outskirts of Denver: Arvada, Lakewood, Wheat Ridge, Golden, Edgewater and Westminster.

Executives at shelters serving suburban communities, such as Foothills, have therefore amassed a sizeable amount of knowledge about the breed.

Fetch asked Foothills staff members to share it, to add more perspective to the still-simmering debate about breed-specific bans here and across the nation.

A major thread of the conversation was the fearsome reputation of pit bulls.

Troy Kerstetter, the incoming operations manager at Foothills, was the first to address the issue.

“We don’t see them as a problem class,” Kerstetter said of pit bulls. He added that breed-specific bans are “just a reaction” instead of a well-thought-out policy.

Angie Davis, the person he is replacing, said the dogs’ reputation “is the hardest thing we have to work with.”

Kerstetter explained that reputation scares off some people who might adopt a pit bull but are afraid they’ll be ostracized by friends and neighbors.

Strickland said the reputation definitely has an effect on adoptions. The average dog spends 13 days in the shelter while awaiting an adoption while pit bulls spend two months.

Fetch has heard credible reports of some in other shelters waiting for years.

Heather Cameron, executive director, said her fear is that a breed ban will be enacted in the Foothills service area. None of the communities served by Foothills now has such a ban.

So what are pit bulls really like?

Jim Adams, a foster volunteer who works one-on-one with a pit bull mix named Angelo, said they like people and are affectionate.

Adams said he took Angelo home one night and his wife was apprehensive about having such a notorious animal in the house.

“Then he reached up and licked her,” he said. “She said, ‘He’s not so bad.'”

Adams and others explained that pit bulls are high-energy dogs that need plenty of exercise.

Davis said the breed “gets stressed easier” than other dogs if it doesn’t get enough exercise. She described pit bulls are “active and strong.”

That strength is displayed when pit bulls bite, Kerstetter said. “They are more powerful so their bites will be worse.”

Cameron said that the dogs have “very high energy” and are “very intelligent.”

Strickland said mental stimulation is important for the breed. “These dogs need a job,” she explained.

At Foothills, pit bulls are walked 10 miles a week. On top of that, they work one-to-one with volunteers such as Adams in a program called PHAT (psychology, health and training).

All animals go through a behavior assessment, Strickland said, and dogs that are aggressive or very ill are weeded out.

In the first year of operation, pit bulls were the top breed for euthanizations at Foothills (212) followed by labradors (132), she said.

“We’re very careful with our adoptions,” Cameron said. “We have high standards.”

Part of that care is being honest with a potential adopter.

“We tell people if the dog is not the right fit,” Davis said.

“We do have a lot of education,” Cameron added.

Adams concluded: “If they go to the right person they are no more aggressive than other dogs.”

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Animal tracks -A new study shows that ten years after the 9/11 attacks, K-9 rescuers at the World Trade Center site and elsewhere have shown only “minimal” health setbacks compared to their human counterparts, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

The study, conducted by the the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, monitored the long-term health effects of working at Ground Zero and the Pentagon found that canines did not show the same level of respiratory problems found in human rescuers.

“The most striking thing is that many of the humans that responded have developed reactive airway diseases, such as asthma, sinusitis or other chronic infections in their nasal sinuses. The dogs on the other hand have fared extremely well,” explained Dr. Cynthia Otto, the study’s lead researcher and an associate professor at PennVet. . . .

The Dumb Friends League has nearly 760 cats in its care right now, so in an effort to increase cat adoptions it is waiving adoption fees through Sept. 30 for all cats, 1 year or older. “Since March, we have seen more than 6,000 cats and kittens come through our doors at both of our shelters,” said Bob Rohde, president and CEO of the League.

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PET CALENDAR
September 16 – The Cat Care Society will be on the 16th Street Mall selling cupcakes to raise money for 60+ shelter cats that are awaiting adoption. The event will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at 16th and California. Six local bakeries are donating the cupcakes.

September 17 - The 4th Annual Mane Event will be held to to support Zuma’s Rescue Ranch in Littleton. The evening will include entertainment, dinner, dancing, wagon rides and auctions. Zuma’s Experiential Learning Center has been helping families and Colorado’s at-risk youth population with alternative methods of healing the broken minds and spirits since 2008 as well as rescuing horses from neglect, abuse or possible slaughter since 2004.
Information: www.zumasrescueranch.com and click on Store to purchase tickets.

I wonder why a paper puts out a one sided story with such misinformation and does not even attempt to allow others to insert the truth in it?
Pit bulls: pets or pests? These dogs kill people at the rate of one person every two weeks in the US alone. and more around the world. Yet you say they love people, I ask for what dinner?

Emily

Where are you getting your statistics, sir? Yes there are more fatal maulings by pit bulls than any other breed…but there are also way more pit bulls than any other breed in the US, and more dogs are being lumped into the “pit bull type dogs” group every day. Guns kill way, WAY more people in this country than pit bulls, as do car accidents. However I doubt you’re going to argue we should outlaw guns. What is with you people? Why do you make it your goal in life to exterminate my effing pet?! You should do some research on dog bite history in the US. It’s a different breed every 20 years. Back in the 1800s it was Newfies and Bloodhounds attacking people all over. But that’s because they were the most popular breeds at the time. I think it’s sad that common sense has been silenced by fear and hysteria. Thank GOD there is ONE media outlet that is showing the OTHER side of the story.

Wolfepk1

@ Emily First off pits are only the 11th most popular dog yet kill more people than all other type dogs combined. Where you get the idea there are more pits than other dogs I have no idea. Check the studies and the facts Labs are the most popular dog and outnumber pits by more than 3 to 1 yet do not kill like pits do. Second guns and cars do not kill on their own, it takes a person to drive the car or pull the trigger of a gun, Pits on the other hand do go off on their own and kill by themselves. Third dog bites statistics have nothing to do with the vicious attacks, serious injuries and deaths overwhelmingly committed by pit bull type dogs. Fourth if you look at what we call a bloodhound now and bloodhound back then, they are not the same dog at all. Back then it was a pit bull type dog that was called a bloodhound. Fifth as for dog bites they are the second most costly public health problem in America today. Yet dog bites in general do not compare to a pit bull attack and pit bulls and other dangerous dogs are by far the types that drive up the cost of dog bite treatment. Sixth, ever sine the 1850’s pits have been in the news for killing people. Seventh you tell me to do research, I do every day full time on this issue and have for a long time. I present only proven facts not emotional and misguided opinions. Eighth the idea that it is the most popular breed that accounts for the most attacks is blatantly false, Pit bulls account for more than all other dogs combined and are far from the most popular dog. Ninth, I never said anything about exterminating your pet at all. That is just a lie pro pit groups spread to make people like you react in a knee jerk fashion out of fear. When in reality if you loved the dogs as you imply you would be right beside me in trying to make sure owners are responsible for their dogs and the actions of those dogs. Last this author did not even attempt to let the OTHER side speak he just posted a misleading article full of misinformation that is designed to hide the truth of the danger these animals pose. That is not journalism that is a biased misuse of his position as a member of the Denver Post staff.

John Davidson

The information came from experienced animal welfare professionals who were free to say anything they liked. Is it biased because you don’t agree with it? – John Davidson

Firmnfrmn

Yes, they do love people, even ignorant ones such as yourself! I work as a nurse in the Emergency Dept at a local hospital. In my 12 years, we have seen very few ‘pitbull’ bites. And none of them were without some kind of abuse involved. The majority of dog bites involved German Shepards and chihuahaus! The only difference between the breeds (pitbull-vs-all others) is the damage that can be done from the bite. Pitbulls have stronger jaws. If German Shepards had the same strength, there would be MORE deaths caused by them than pitbulls. How about that for some truth?
Did you know that in 2007,144 people were killed by guns EVERYDAY in the US alone. How come they aren’t banned? These are human beings killing other human beings! I think that would be more of a concern to you? Unless of course, you are a gun owner. I am not, I do however own a pitbull. And I feel safer in my house with her around than I ever would with a gun. More truth for you!
Maybe you should try spending a little time with a pitbull before you feel qualified to judge. ..just sayin!

Wolfepk1

@Firmnfrmn, How is it when every other nurse and emergency room says that by far the most numerous and the most severe cases are always pits. Yet you and you alone say you see very few. I wonder if its because you do not work in a trauma center or possibly in a field that would not see them. After all when so many others see them so often either you are not in a position to say how many there are or you are deliberately trying to spread a false impression.

Emily

Oh please. She is FAR from the only nurse to make this statement.

Wolfepk1

Any nurse who works in a major hospital sees many of these attacks. so she either is not a nurse, does not work in a trauma center at a major hospital or is being dishonest. Every major city in America has these problems and the victims arrive at the emergency rooms on in many cases on a daily basis. Those are the facts and thus any nurse in one of those hospital emergency rooms sees many of these victims. If she works in a rural hospital that sees very few emergencies at all then it is possible. However if that is the case then it is dishonest to try to make people think that is the norm.

Firmnfrmn

Yes, I do work as an RN at University Hospital, in Aurora- and we do see our fair share of traumas.
Pitbulls are banned in Aurora, and sadly, most other cities in the Denver area as well. If you actually read the ban, so are many other breeds. So that may be the reason we don’t see many of these bites. And you are right, I do not work 24/7 so I don’t see everything that comes in. I do work full time though and have many friends that are RN’s in other trauma hospitals and they DO NOT see MANY of these attacks everday. So that was obviously an uneducated comment. And I can speak for what I DO see. Just last year (2010) I saw with my own eyes, TWO pitbull bites. Yes, they were bad. One was provoked by the owner disciplining the dog, with his fist. The other was the result of a dog fight, hmmm, perhaps another irresponsible pet owner? I also saw with my own eyes 2 German Shepard bites, different dates, same person…a small child, unprovoked. They were disfiguring bites as well. I can also speak from personal experience. As a child, my younger brother was attaked by a neighbor’s German Shepard and had multiple stitches in his abdomen, back and legs. Believe me, if I thought for one second that pitbulls were dangerous I would not own one! My pitbull is BY FAR the most loving and loyal companion I could ever ask for. More than most people I know! She is welcomed at the local dog park where I might add, she does NOT NEED a leash or muzzle or any other contraption. Why, because she isn’t mean and aggressive like you think. In fact, there isn’t one aggressive bone in her body! In her 3 years, she has NEVER fought with another dog or even so much as growled at one while at the park! Maybe you should meet her or any pitbull for that matter before you speak such crap about them! And to think ALL pitbulls are the same is like saying ALL African Americans are criminals. Anybody with any amount of common sense knows thats just not true! You are obviously lacking in that area.

Wolfepk1

@Firmnfrmn So you are in an area where pits are banned and yet you try to use the lack of attacks by pits in that area to say they are not a problem. People who are deliberately deceptive and dishonest are a big reason pits are such a problem. Why would you want to make yourself part of the problem instead of helping to solve the problems?

Stephanieelizabeth

“one person every two weeks”.(eye roll)

Wolfepk1

@stephanieelizabeth So I take your comment to mean you think it is okay for a dozen kids and two dozen people in the US to be killed by these dogs every year? I think one is one to many.

Firmnfrmn

“A dozen kids and two dozen people”. Are you implying that kids aren’t people? Wow, you really do have alot to learn. Compassion would be a great place to start.

Wolfepk1

Yes compassion for victims of these needless and preventable attacks is needed. Of course pro pit people in my experience show no concern for the victims only the dogs in most cases. That is one of the reasons people like me have to stand up and speak out against the lies and misinformation they spread about the dogs and the dangers. That is why good people have to stand up and make sure it is understood Peoples Lives come first not dogs.

jimmyb

Since I am the Jim Adams mentioned in the article, let me make some personal observations for you Wolfepk1:

You state: “Of course pro pit people in my experience show no concern for the victims only the dogs in most cases. That is one of the reasons people like me have to stand up and speak out against the lies and misinformation they spread about the dogs and the dangers.”

What experience do you have, which qualifies such statements ?? And, EXACTLY, which lies and misinformation are you talking about ???

Is it the lies and misinformation YOU espoused above ??? I have 2 dog partners; a German Shepherd (ChewieBear) and Angelo, the pit in the article. Like any “responsible” partner, should EITHER of them cause any harm to another human (or, another’s pet) I would be the first to show compassion for what my partner did, and offer to pay any medical expenses as a result. ANY pet owner would be rightly upset, should their pet hurt anybody else. And, no Angelo hasn’t hurt, or killed ChewieBear, me, my wife, my son, the neighbors, the kids who play with him…..etc.

You boldly claim those who disagree with you, totally disreguard the hurt and pain caused by SOME pits; while you make lite of the death of a child by a pom……hmmm, interesting.

Did you know, pits were at one time called the Nanny-dog ?? Why ??? Glad you asked….back in the day, when there was a new baby in the house and mom and dad were busy working the farm (or, whaterver chores they had), the baby was placed in a room with a pit, and the pit would defend the baby from ALL threats…..to the death.

It wasn’t until crap (like of Michael Vick) decided these animals were such good protectors and would fight to the death to defend their master(s), that pits should be bread to fight (and kill); which is why pits are now, such a “threat”.

You must be pretty young, as not to know, back in the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s, German Shepherds were deamed to be the “worst” breed, when it came to attacks, as most police departments and the military found them to be ideal for such a purpose. People who were not in the military, or police, who owned these animals, back then, were considered “stupid” and were putting the rest of the population in jeopardy, just by owning them. Some communities banned them as being too “dangerous”. Funny thing is, pits weren’t even considered to be “dangerous”, back then.

At that time, the ignorance folks had about German Shepherds is just as bad as yours is today.

I know this won’t change your mind about pits, but ignorance generally loses to those who educate themselves against such stupidity.

Pits aren’t for everyone, nor are Shepherds, Poms, Shelties…etc, as not everyone can control a pit, a Shepherd, a Pom, a Sheltie…..etc.

In other words, Wolfepk1, if an animal is out of control, is overly agressive, or has a tendency to attack, it’s ALWAYS the fault of the idiot who owns it.

Unfortunatly, it’s usually the animal who must pay the ultimate price for it’s owners stupidity, or another’s ignorant opinions.

Wolfepk1

Oh yes lets compare one single incident by a pom over the last 40 years to the scores killed by pits. you really should do some real research instead of trying to deliberately obfuscate the issues. Pits killed 23 people directly last year alone and indirectly caused the death of others.

Those are facts, I know you don’t like them but they are there for all to see. So is the fact that pits KILL MORE PEOPLE THAN ALL OTHER DOGS COMBINED. Bottom line that is a serious and growing problem and has to be addressed. You can try to convince people to allow these dogs to keep on killing, but that only makes you responsible for the injuries and deaths as much as the dogs the owners and anyone else involved.

If you actually cared anything about the victims you would not be on here or anywhere trying to hide the truth and the danger from people.

Fetch takes a topical look at a variety of issues affecting pets, including the latest research results.. It seeks to provide useful information for Colorado pet owners and to spotlight the work of Colorado animal welfare groups.